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Question

PC crashes to a solid color, screen flickers black

Aug 24, 2016 2:12AM PDT

Hi everyone I'm hoping I can find a solution on this site because I don't want to buy a whole new computer. My problem is that my PC will crash to a random solid color such as beige or grey. This started 3 days ago when I was playing csgo with my friends and it happened once. I thought it was just like a BSOD and I rebooted my PC and everything was good for 3 days. Then all of a sudden my PC would crash to these solid colours frequently and eventually to a point where I can't even start up a game because it will just crash instantly. During these crashes I'm sometimes able to hear sound and other times I'm not. It crashes every 30 mins to an hour when I'm not gaming. My dad and I built this PC 2 years ago and I have NEVER experienced any issues with it. All of a sudden with no warnings of symptoms my PC would crash. Sometimes my PC won't even start up and my screen will flicker black after I get to the login screen.

My specs
Amd eight core fx 8320
Windows 7 service pack 1 64bit
Amd Radeon r9 280x visiontek/msi
Psu corsair cx750m
Gigabyte motherboard model 990fxa-ud3
Dual 4g memory corsair vengeance

What I have tried to do
-updated graphics drivers to latest version
-started a system repair
-used safe mode
-fan Intel test for cpu with no issues
-ran fur mark Gpu test and my PC instantly crashes (tried 3 times)
-did an anti virus scan and no issues here

Help will be appreciated but u believe there is a problem with my Gpu due to the fact my system crashes during furmark


Notes: my PC crashed 3 times while writing this so I used my phone to write this all out

Thanks for future replies

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
I see you tried drivers.
Aug 24, 2016 7:15AM PDT

Did you try cleaning heatsinks, checking fans and then replacing GPU and CPU heatsink compound?

If not, that's next.

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(NT) Ok will try that next
Aug 24, 2016 12:56PM PDT
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The 290x is similar so here's a link I keep handy.
Aug 24, 2016 12:59PM PDT
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(NT) What will I need to buy?
Aug 24, 2016 1:32PM PDT
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Just the stuff you don't have.
Aug 24, 2016 1:36PM PDT

The article looked to call out what is needed.

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Got items
Aug 24, 2016 5:03PM PDT

Got the compressed air can, also artic silver 3.5 grams of thermal paste. I will do this in the upcoming days and il let you know any updates thanks for the help so far

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Don't use too much.
Aug 24, 2016 5:50PM PDT

A pea size blob is enough. Plenty of youtubes on that.
Dafydd.

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New update
Aug 24, 2016 5:53PM PDT

So the problem seemed to escalate. Whenever I turn my PC on my screen will flicker black. My PC is turned on and I can tell becuase I see the lights on, fans on etc. However nothing will display on my monitor.

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And you did the work?
Aug 24, 2016 6:08PM PDT

Dafydd.

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No not yet
Aug 24, 2016 6:22PM PDT

No haven't done the work yet Tommorow I'm going to get my compressed air and spray through my PC. I'm unsure on how to remove the PC parts without damaging it.